After years of dating people on and off and constantly looking for a good relationship, I got tired of looking for love and started to just live, and hope love will find me.

Which is great and all, but it can be pretty lonely, especially since I live alone. A friend told me I should get a dog, and the more I think about it, the more I think she's right! Dogs are great companions, and a great way to reward yourself with (nearly unconditional) love without being so focused on dating.

Here's why:

1. A dog will keep you company.

Lame as it sounds, its less depressing to watch a sad movie alone on a Friday night with a dog cuddled up with you. And, if you're like me and totally let them on the bed, they'll keep you company there, too. You'll be able to go on walks together and generally just feel a little less lonely thanks to your canine friend.

2. A dog will make you feel important.

Owning a dog is a lot of responsibility (and money), and they'll be totally reliant on you for getting what they need! Feeding them, taking them out, taking them to the vet: all of it will be on you! And that's strangely rewarding. Putting your name and phone no. on the "please call if lost" tag around your pup's neck will make you feel proud of what you're doing.

3. A dog gives you love!

As annoying as it will probably get sometimes, this dog that is relying on you is probably going to love you a whole lot, which means they're going to want to be with you all the time. Which is kind of great, if you think about it! You doggie will love you and you will love them and everything will be great.

4. A dog will wait for you.

This kind of goes back to the point of "its nice to have responsibility," but it's also nice to know that you dog is waiting for you to get home, and will be happy to see you when you do!

5. A dog is fun!!

What it comes down to this is: will a dog make your life brighter and more fun? Yes! For the next 15 or 20 years if you get a puppy, you'll have someone at your side to face the world with. Someone to play with when you get home. Someone to talk on walks and to snuggle when there are thunderstorms out side. Owning a dog is a great way to love and be loved without being so focused on the "I need someone in my life" aspect of dating--and then you can actually hope to find love without being so worried about it!

I am by no means saying that raising a dog is easier than being in a relationship--it's just a different kind of hard! Having a pet can be an enormously rewarding part of life (as can having a boyfriend, of course) but if you're too caught up in thinking you need to seek all your happiness from a relationships, getting a dog can show you otherwise!